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Truist keeps 'Buy' on Microsoft stock, sees growth potential in AI initiatives

EditorEmilio Ghigini
Published 17/06/2024, 08:48 pm
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On Monday, Truist Securities maintained a bullish stance on Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock, reiterating a Buy rating with a $600.00 price target. The firm's focus on Microsoft highlights the company's evolving artificial intelligence (AI) strategy as a key driver for its leadership in the software industry. Microsoft's AI developments are seen as central to the sectors of infrastructure and security that Truist covers.

The firm's update pointed out that while there may be several winners in the generative AI model space, OpenAI is currently leading, particularly in large language models (LLMs).

Truist emphasized the first-mover advantage Microsoft has gained through its partnership with OpenAI in enterprise AI applications. The careful consideration being given to the architecture and governance of these AI systems is believed to provide a lasting benefit.

Truist's analysis suggests that the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI could offer incremental advantages over other cloud service providers. This partnership is particularly significant as it could leverage OpenAI's position in the LLM space to enhance Microsoft's offerings.

The firm's confidence in Microsoft is also rooted in the belief that the tech giant's AI strategy will continue to drive its position in the software industry. This strategy is expected to have a positive impact on Microsoft's business operations and its standing among cloud providers.

Truist's reaffirmed price target of $600.00 for Microsoft reflects the firm's anticipation of the company's continued growth and success in the AI domain. This target remains unchanged as Truist concludes its update ahead of the quiet period for their calendar quarter coverage.

In other recent news, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) has revised its year-end target for the S&P 500 Index from 5,200 to 5,600, a projected 3.1% increase. This adjustment is attributed to robust earnings growth among key U.S. tech companies such as Microsoft, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META). The analysts at Goldman Sachs have also noted that the upcoming U.S. presidential election introduces a degree of risk to the S&P 500 levels.

In Europe, 26 industry associations are advocating for a non-discriminatory approach to the proposed European Union Cybersecurity Certification Scheme (EUCS) for cloud services.

The groups are calling for the scheme not to unfairly target large technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. They emphasize the importance of aligning cloud security improvements with industry best practices and non-discriminatory principles.

Wedbush has increased its price target for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares to $550 from the previous $500, maintaining an Outperform rating. The firm's positive stance comes amid heightened expectations for Microsoft's growth trajectory, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the potential for increased monetization of its AI products.

Microsoft Corporation has announced a significant investment of $7.16 billion in new data centers in Spain's Aragon region. This positions Aragon as an emerging cloud computing hub within Europe.

In a separate development, Microsoft has delayed the launch of its Recall AI feature due to privacy concerns. The company plans to introduce the feature to a smaller audience through its Windows Insider Program before a broader release.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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